Inside Spain is a weekly instalment brought to you by Football España, providing an insight into all of the major stories coming out of the rich and intense climes of La Liga and beyond.
‘No doubt. The players are affected by the environment around them, and what is said.’ With those words, Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez made himself the story despite their 2-1 win over Alaves before the international break.
The story was that Xavi had blamed the press for Barcelona’s poor performances, and while it seems a long way off that Barcelona might consider dismissing him (just two points off Real Madrid), Xavi is being questioned more than ever. Publicly, President Joan Laporta has backed him, but privately, they have sounded out a potential replacement.
As is Ilkay Gundogan. Since his fiery post-Clasico rant, the ex-Manchester City midfielder has been rather disappointing himself. After that rant, stories emerged that he was not best-pleased with Barcelona for their lack of support in helping his family settle when he arrived. Partner Sara Gundogan publicly denied that.
This international break, Gundogan was linked with a move to Galatasaray, which his brother and agent Ilhan Gundogan came out and denied – ‘We have no idea how this news came about’.
Real Madrid were feeling good in spite of Jude Bellingham’s shoulder injury, after a 5-1 win over Valencia showed the first real signs of Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior looking at their best this season.
Cadiz (A)
Napoli (H)
Granada (H)
Real Betis (A)
Union Berlin (A)
Villarreal (H)
Alaves (A)
Real Mallorca (H)
Atletico Madrid (N)
The nine games Eduardo Camavinga is set to miss with his knee injury. #RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/seKMoq05zq
— Football España (@footballespana_) November 16, 2023
They had little time to enjoy that though, as Eduardo Camavinga went down in France training with sprained knee ligaments. That injury is expected to keep him out for eight weeks, and with Aurelien Tchouameni also out with a fractured metatarsal, Carlo Ancelotti will have to improvise with one of Toni Kroos or Fede Valverde moving deeper.
Arda Guler has again been injured before making his debut, and is set to miss the…
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